Hull owner hits out at pundits over 'laughable' criticism

Hull City's owner, Acun Ilicali, has reacted strongly to criticism from pundits Joe Cole and Carlton Cole regarding the club's chances of remaining in the Premier League. On a podcast, Joe Cole expressed his disbelief at the prospect of Hull staying up, jokingly stating they had entered the league through a "back door." He further suggested that his club's inclusion in the top flight was a result of a "slip."

Ilicali, however, was not amused by the remarks. He criticized the pundits for their lack of understanding, stating that Hull has faced such doubts before and had even overcome relegation from the Championship to League One just a year ago. The owner emphasized that Hull has always taken such underestimation in stride, but this time, the criticism from ex-players like Joe and Carlton Cole felt particularly insulting.

Hull City's manager, Sergej Jakirovic, echoed Ilicali's sentiments. He saw the comments as a motivation for the team to prove their detractors wrong. He believed that despite the challenging task ahead, the club could still fight for survival, and that the motivation to do so would come from within their players. Carlton Cole, who played for Chelsea, West Ham, and made seven appearances for England, defended his comments on social media, labelling them as "banter" and expressing his love for Hull City.